Google launches new Nexus gadgets and Android Lollipop

Google has launched three new gadgets including a new smartphone and tablet running the company’s upgraded Android Lollipop operating software and a new TV-streaming device.

The Nexus 6 smartphone, built for Google by Motorola, comes with a 5.96in Quad HD screen and a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera.

The phone also has dual front-facing speakers designed to offer better quality audio and is equipped with a new Turbo Charger, which allows charging the battery to last six hours within only 15 minutes. The phone will come with two storage options, 32GB or 64GB.

Nexus 6, as well as the Nexus 9 tablet, enables users to use voice commands to control the gadget, similarly to how the Google Glass can be controlled.

The advanced voice command system is one of the key features of the updated Android Lollipop operating software which will be first introduced on Nexus 6 and 9. The upgraded operating software also offers advanced battery-management capabilities for better efficiency and longer battery life. The software will be available on Google’s existing devices Nexus 5, 7 and 10 in the coming weeks.

The Nexus 9 tablet, basically an upgrade of the earlier Nexus 7, was built by HTC and features an 8.9in screen. Weighing 420g, the device is 50g lighter than Apple’s new iPad Air. Nexus 9 is the first device to have a 64-bit processor for increased performance in terms of speed, particularly when playing games.

The Nexus Player will be the first device from Google to house the Android TV software, which the firm introduced at their I/O conference earlier this year. The device will allow users to stream content from their Android phone, tablet and Chrome-based desktop computers. Sitting alongside Google's existing streaming device, the Chromecast, the Nexus Player is likely to be aimed at more premium users than the GBP30 Chromecast.

As well as TV and film, the Player has a compatible video games controller and apps from the Google Play Store can now be downloaded and played via the TV, though the controller will be an optional extra.